Yann Martel: Life of Pi film will be perfect

Yann Martel has claimed that that the film adaptation of his Man Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi, directed by Oscar winner Ang Lee, will be a 'perfect' representation of his novel.

The author, who has a cameo in the film, told the Globe and Mail that he did not write the screenplay but was kept 'in the loop' about the film's production to ensure no key elements were lost in the translation to the big screen.

Martel endorsed Lee as a director, claiming that the use of special effects in the film – which will be shot in 3D – will not overshadow the story in any way.

'Lee is a perfect director for this kind of story. He's good at ... the emotional detail but also he's very adept at making complicated movies that demand special effects,' the author added.

Martel said that he is 'flabbergasted' his story has been adapted into a film, when just ten years ago he was living below the poverty line.